Beam scale with fluid balance/indicator



July 18, 1937 w q; ABELLI 3,331,459

BEAM SCALE WITH FLUID BALANCE/INDICATOR Filed June 8, 1966 Fig,

IN VE N TOR W/W/am 6f Abel/l BY 9 m United States Patent Filed June 8,1966, Ser. No. 556,825 Claims. (Cl. 177-201) This invention relates to aweighing scale and aims to provide an extremely simple and inexpensiveconstruction which may be made in a minimum number of parts andprimarily, though not necessarily, from any suitable plastic material.

A prime object is to provide such a scale wherein a beam or balance armis normally in an angular position relative to the horizontal andcarries a fluid or liquid which moves therein to coa-ct withgraduations'thereon to indicate the weight of matter disposed on thebeam in response to changes in angularity of the beam caused by suchweight.

A second object is to provide a scale having a balance beam equipped onopposite sides of its fulcrum with a bulb and a platform, the beamhaving a longitudinal bore or passage communicating with the bulb incombination with a fluid observable through the beam arranged to flow toand from the bulb and passage and relative to indications on the beamdependent on changes in the angularity of the beam caused by the weightof material sup ported on the platform.

Another object is to provide in a weighing scale, a balance beam tosupport material to be weighed and which beam contains -a movableweight-indicating liquid, which beam is balanced and arranged to benormally moved through various angular positions according to weight ofmaterials supported thereby, so that liquid may move to and fromweight-indicating positions.

A further object is to provide such a scale having means carried by thebeam operable to adjustably balance it and bracket means pivotallymounting the beam and usually carried by a base.

Still further, an object is to provide the bulb of the beam with alaterally enlarged space so as to carry a suflicient quantity of theliquid to indicatingly cooperate with the graduations or indications atthe various angles desired.

In accompanying drawings illustrating one form of the invention,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the scale;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the scale showing the parts in normalposition with material to be weighed suggested in dotted lines;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE.1, and

"FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3.

Referring specifically to the drawings, A designates a beam meanscomprising a balance beam or arm 10 which is pivotally mounted as on ahorizontal axis 11 in any suitable manner as by means of brackets 12 orany equivalent anchored to a portable base 13. Said beam 10 at its lowerend is equipped with a hollow bulb 14 having a collar 15 about anopening 16 and which collar is interfitted in the adjacent end of beam10 with all contiguous surfaces of the bulb and beam 10 suitably sealedfluid tight. Beam 10 has a longitudinal bore or passageway 17 whichcommunicates with the interior of the bulb 14 through opening 16.

Within the bulb 14 is a suitable quantity of indicating fluid such, forexample, as water, spirits, oil, alcohol, mercury, etc., as indicated at1-8. Along the beam 10 are suitable scale graduations or Weightindications, numbered if preferred, for instance the lowest one at zero(0) and the preferably 36 others progressively increasing in height fromzero (0) and relative to the angle of the beam. Said indications orgradua-tions may, for instance, be representative of quarter ounces. Thematerial to be weighed such as matter 19 suggested in dotted lines mayrest on a platform 20 carried by the beam.

The beam 10 with platform 20 and the quantity of fluid 18 in the beamare so related and balanced that the level L of fluid 18 intersects orextends to the zero (0) indication when the beam 10 is in the normal orposition as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings. At 21 a closurescrew for a filling opening to the bulb 14 is indicated and the fit issufliciently loose that a vent results so that the air is provided toenable fluid 18 to freely flow and in addition a further air vent may beprovided as at the upper end of passageway 17 if desired.

The axis at 11 for the beam 10 is, for instance, that of trunnions 22formed integral with the beam 10 and journaled in the brackets 12.

Depending from the beam 10 and intersected by a vertical line passingthrough the trunnions is a bracket 23 on which a counter weight 24 isfastened by a set screw 25 so as to be adjustably slidable to rectifyany imbalance of the beam 10, its contents and parts movable therewith.

It will be realized that all the parts of the instant scale may be madeof any desired material and, for instance, plastic, which will be lightin weight and may be wholly or partially transparent or translucent ifdesired.

In use the beam means A is balanced at the angle shown wherein the levelof fluid 18 registers or intersects the zero mark (0) delineated on thebeam 10 and the beam 10 is sufliciently transparent or translucent atleast at a portion thereof so that the fluid within the passageway 17may be observed through the beam in co-action with the zero mark (0) andadditional calibrations or weight indications. The matter 19 to beweighed is placed on the platform 20 which tilts the beam downwardlytoward the plane of its axis 22 which disposes the material 19 nearerthe horizontal so that the bulb and fluid 18 will be raised and moved inpassage 17 in the direction of the platform 20 to register with theproper indication to the right of Zero mark (0) conforming to itsweight.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall. within the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A measuring scale having a pivotally mounted beam means, anindicating fluid at one side of the pivotal mounting balancing said beammeans in a position inclined to the horizontal, and said beam means onthe other side of its pivotal mounting being depressible by materialbeing weighed to enable movement of said fluid from a zero position to aweight-indicating position.

2. A measuring scale according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal mountingcomprises trunnions on opposite sides of said beam means furnishing saidpivotal mounting, and supporting means in which said trunnions arejournaled.

3. A weighing scale according to claim 1 wherein said beam is lightpenetrable to enable observation of the travel of said fluid.

4. A measuring scale having a pivotally mounted beam, an indicatingfluid balancing said beam means in a position inclined to thehorizontal, said beam means on one side of the pivotal mounting beingdepressi-ble by material being weighed to enable movement of said fluidfrom a zero position to a weight-indicating position, said beam meansconsisting of a beam having a longitudinal passageway in which saidfluid moves, and a bulb adjacent one end of said beam to and from whichsaid fluid moves.

5. A measuring scale according to claim 4 wherein said pivotal mountingis closer to said bulb than to the other end of said beam.

6. A measuring scale according to claim 3 wherein a platform to holdmaterial to be weighed is carried by said beam on the other side of andremote to said pivotal axis.

7. A measuring scale according to claim 4 wherein said bulb has aninterfitted connection with said beam and said fluid is passable throughsaid connection to and from said passageway and bulb.

8. A weighing scale according to claim 4 beam is of plastic.

9. A weighing scale according to claim 1 having an adjustable rectifyingWeight means carried by said beam means below, adjacent to and bridgingthe pivotal axis of the pivotal mounting.

10. A weighing scale according to claim 4 wherein trunnions are providedon opposite sides of said beam to wherein said furnish said pivotalmounting, supporting means in which said trunnions are journaled, saidbeam and bulb' being of plastic material, said beam beinglight-penetrable to enable observation of the movement of said fluid,said bulb having a filling opening, a loose fitting closure for thelatter and an adjustable rectifying weight means carried by said beam'below and adjacent said pivotal mounting.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,880,436 10/1932 Haskins 177-1642,577,100 12/1951 Alvarez 177-254 X RICHARD B. WILKINSON, PrimaryExaminer.

GEORGE H.. MILLER, JR., Assistant Examiner.

1. A MEASURING SCALE HAVING A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BEAM MEANS, ANINDICATING FLUID AT ONE SIDE OF THE PIVOTAL MOUNTING BALANCING SAID BEAMMEANS IN A POSITION INCLINED TO THE HORIZONTAL, AND SAID BEAM MEANS ONTHE OTHER SIDE OF ITS PIVOTAL MOUNTING BEING DEPRESSIBLE BY MATERIALBEING WEIGHED TO ENABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID FLUID FROM A ZERO POSITION TO AWEIGHT-INDICATING POSITION.